Language Arts Activities
This activity uses an excerpt from a book depicting the differences between the American way of life versus life in Russia. The excerpt covers standards such as author's purpose, inference, evaluation, compare and contrast, characteristics of genre, and point-of-view. Students will read the following excerpt and be prepared to discuss the differences presented as well as the point-of-view of the character, Viktor. viktor_belenko.pdf Have students consider the following questions: 1)What was Viktor's reaction to the shopping center? 2)How would you react to a grocery store in Russia as described by Viktor's account? Be specific. 3)Would you consider Russia an underdeveloped country? 4)Describe how you would feel if you were in Viktor's shoes. 5)What motivation or circumstances might possibly encourage Viktor to adopt his opinion about America and its shops? 6) What did he mean by Dark Forces? 7)Explain what you believe to be the author's purpose in writing this article.
If you would like for your students to become more actively involved with the material while they are reading, have them pull out 3 important quotes from the story, tell where they found them, and why they are important. The following link will take you to a graphic organizer you can use on your ActivBoard to record group results. http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/pdf/dialecticaljournal2.pdf
Journal Writing Activity To Use With Balanced Literacy: Have students read the poem, "The Arithmetic of Poverty." arithmetic_of_poverty.pdf After reading, have them respond to the poem by discussing the overall meaning of the poem. What is it referring to? Why is it titled "The Arithmetic of Poverty"? What thoughts or ideas come to your mind about hunger as you read the poem? Compare this to your own life and situation; imagine yourself in this person's shoes. What would your thoughts be?
Summarizing Activity Using Poetry: After studying about world hunger, students can summarize what they've learned by writing and sharing poetry expressing their thoughts, emotions, and possible solutions to the problems. They can model their poetry after the "Arithmetic of Poverty" that places the author in the shoes of the Indian mother. Included on this wiki are some examples of different types of poetry you may choose to use with your students. jingles.pdf Another wonderful way to take this assignment to the next level would be to create a podcast having students using a program like PhotoStory 3 to record themselves reading their poetry and putting images with it. This could be played on the TV out front or connected to your website! If you want to try, email Melissa, or contact Mrs. Naylor.
This activity uses an excerpt from a book depicting the differences between the American way of life versus life in Russia. The excerpt covers standards such as author's purpose, inference, evaluation, compare and contrast, characteristics of genre, and point-of-view. Students will read the following excerpt and be prepared to discuss the differences presented as well as the point-of-view of the character, Viktor. viktor_belenko.pdf Have students consider the following questions: 1)What was Viktor's reaction to the shopping center? 2)How would you react to a grocery store in Russia as described by Viktor's account? Be specific. 3)Would you consider Russia an underdeveloped country? 4)Describe how you would feel if you were in Viktor's shoes. 5)What motivation or circumstances might possibly encourage Viktor to adopt his opinion about America and its shops? 6) What did he mean by Dark Forces? 7)Explain what you believe to be the author's purpose in writing this article.
If you would like for your students to become more actively involved with the material while they are reading, have them pull out 3 important quotes from the story, tell where they found them, and why they are important. The following link will take you to a graphic organizer you can use on your ActivBoard to record group results. http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/pdf/dialecticaljournal2.pdf
Journal Writing Activity To Use With Balanced Literacy: Have students read the poem, "The Arithmetic of Poverty." arithmetic_of_poverty.pdf After reading, have them respond to the poem by discussing the overall meaning of the poem. What is it referring to? Why is it titled "The Arithmetic of Poverty"? What thoughts or ideas come to your mind about hunger as you read the poem? Compare this to your own life and situation; imagine yourself in this person's shoes. What would your thoughts be?
Summarizing Activity Using Poetry: After studying about world hunger, students can summarize what they've learned by writing and sharing poetry expressing their thoughts, emotions, and possible solutions to the problems. They can model their poetry after the "Arithmetic of Poverty" that places the author in the shoes of the Indian mother. Included on this wiki are some examples of different types of poetry you may choose to use with your students. jingles.pdf Another wonderful way to take this assignment to the next level would be to create a podcast having students using a program like PhotoStory 3 to record themselves reading their poetry and putting images with it. This could be played on the TV out front or connected to your website! If you want to try, email Melissa, or contact Mrs. Naylor.